Dundee 1
Dunfermline Athletic 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Dunfermline were on top for a large spell of the first period but the introduction of Antoine-Curier early in the second half saw the Dark Blues gain the upper hand.

Jocky Scott kept faith with the eleven who started against QOS last week with Benedictus and Antione-Curier returning to the bench after injury and illness respectively while Dunfermline looked to keep up with pace setters St.Johnstone.

After a slow start Stephen Glass' volley and Nicky Phinn's turn and shot failed to test Douglas in the home goal. After scoring his first goal of the season against QOS the week previously Colin McMenamin's confidence was at a high and he was unlucky in the 10th minute as Scott Wilson tracked back to block the forward's shot after

O'Brien had won the ball thirty yards from goal.

Although being tested by efforts from Glass, Kirk and Bell's Douglas collected with ease and from a Pars free kick Malone surged forward but was fouled outside the box. Shinnie's cross to the front post saw Dunfermline clear for a corner. Malone connected with O'Brien's corner but a Dunfermline body blocked the shot for another corner although Dundee failed to capitalise.

With half an hour gone Paul Gallacher made a mess of a clearance which fell kindly to Shinnie but Nicky Phinn's challenge before the youngster could get a shot away from distance saved the keeper's blushes. Craig McKeown was then forced to be on his toes at the other end when a long ball forward was flicked onto Kirk who got in behind the defence in the box but his cut back was cleared by McKeown on the six yard line.

With half time approaching a Dundee free kick from inside Dunfermline's half was sent forward by Paton and was knocked towards goal from a melee of players from both sides but Gallacher got down to save and keep the scores level at the interval.

As has been the case on more than one occasion this season Dundee came out of the block fastest after the break with Daquin drifting the ball into the box but neither Pozniak nor McMenamin could get the touch that would see it break past Gallacher.

Ten minutes into the second half Antione-Curier replaced Chris Pozniak as the team reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with the Frenchman partnering McMenamin upfront.

A Dunfermline break is sent out wide to Ross whose low drive across the area was cleared by McKeown. Just as it looked like the deadlock may never be broken Malone played the ball into Shinnie who turned his marker before being pulled over winning a free kick on the edge of the box. Despite Shinnie wanting to take the set-piece himself, Captain Paton stepped up to curl the free kick up and over the wall and into the top left corner to give Dundee the lead.

Manager Jim McIntyre threw on his remaining two substitutions in order to take something from the game: Ross replaced Willis while Burke came on for Phinn. A Pars free kick in the corner on the right was taken by Glass and although Douglas failed to collect his defence managed to get it clear. Shinnie and Daquin were in the thick of the action and the former set up the latter who continued his run into the box and despite beating his man the winger dragged his shot wide.

With ten minutes to go Dundee should have doubled their lead: Eddie Malone's cross in found its way out to Daquin whose cross back into the back post was again cleared. The Frenchman's second low cross found McMenamin who struck his shot at the front post, poking the ball agonisingly off the inside of the post and allowing Dunfermline to scramble clear.

Despite the nervous moments late on with a succession . of three Dunfermline corners but the Dundee rearguard remained resolute to earn their third clean sheet in a row as well as the three points which saw them ascent to fifth place and just four points behind the Pars.

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website